Black Country treasure hunter to cash in on once-in-a-lifetime find

Colin Pearson found a 14th or 15th century gold reliquary when out with the Bloxwich Research and Metal Detecting Club.

The 70-year-old found the 34mm by 28mm piece in a farmer's field in Drayton Bassett, on the Staffordshire/Warwickshire border which, if it had been complete, would have been worth £70,000.

In the condition that it was found, the piece is worth in the region of £7,000, and is currently being held by the British Museum while Warwick Museum prepares the funds to purchase it for its collection. It's believed the gold reliquary could once have been worn by royalty.

And Mr Pearson, who lives in Compton and has been metal detecting for more than 30 years, stands to make a pretty penny from his find when he splits the cash 50/50 with the land owner.

He said: "It's 14th or15th century gold, and back then it probably would only have been worn by royalty, as they were the only people rich enough to afford it.

"I've been going out metal detecting for about 30 odd years, and normally I go out into a field and just go all over the place and not in one specific direction. But when I got there at 10am in the morning I fixated on the far corner, which was about half a mile away, and headed straight towards it.

"It really is a once-in-a-lifetime find, there are only three of these lids.

"One was found by a four-year-old in Yorkshire who went out metal detecting with his dad, and that one was worth £70,000."

In October, the Express & Star revealed that five silver coins dating back to the reign of Henry VIII that were found near Bridgnorth were declared treasure.

The 16th century coins, dug up by metal detecting enthusiasts like Colin, were probably hidden for emergencies during the reign of the Tudor monarch, experts claimed.

Shropshire Museums have since expressed an interest in having the coins for display.

Mr Pearson added: "When I saw the coins found in Bridgnorth, I thought my little find deserved a bit of recognition, and I think plenty of people would be interested in seeing them."

One of the most famous finds of recent years was the Staffordshire Hoard which was discovered in 2009 scattered just below the surface of a field at Hammerwich, on the Burntwood/Brownhills border. It is made up of around 3,500 items.

Have you discovered any buried treasure out and about or in your back garden? Or do you have any historical items that you would like to share with our readers? If so, call 01902 319363 or email nick.humphreys@expressandstar.co.uk